Siphon-starter



(No Model.)

A. L. DAWSON. SIPHON STARTER.

Patented May 7, 1895.

IINITED STATES PATENT 'FFICE,

ARTEMAS L. DAWSON, 0F NEENAH, WISCONSIN.

SlPHON-STARTER.

SPECIFICATION forming; part of Letters Patent No, 538,729, dated May '7,1895.

Application filed June 8, 1894 Serial No. 513,894. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ARTEMAS L. DAWSON, a citizen of the United States,and a resident of Neenah, in the county of Winnebago and State ofWisconsin, have invented certain new and usefullmprovements in Siphons;and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exactdescription of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in theart to which it appertains to make and use the same.

Myinvention relates to starters for siphons.

The common method of starting a siphon to flowing, whether it be of therigid, or flexible type, is to submerge the whole siphon so as tocompletely fill it with the liquid, and then, while holding the exit endtightly closed, either with the hand or in some equivalent manner, drawthe siphon into position. In cases in which the liquid is harmless andinoffensive, and the siphon small, the operator often uses his mouth tosuck the stream into action, but when the liquid is of injurious orpoisonous nature, it is plain that this method of starting the siphon toaction cannot be pursued.

It is for the purpose of avoiding the inconveniences above mentionedthat the present siphon starter has been provided, and theinventionconsists, in a device for starting the flow without the necessity ofsucking, or immersing and filling the hose, in the ways previouslymentioned.

In the drawing, the figure thereof represents a perspective view of aportion of a siphon-tube, showing my improved starter applied thereto.

In using a siphon, made of small flexible rubber hose, it is found thatthe flow can be started quite successfully by compressing the hosebetween the fingers of the hand, and while thus held by sliding thefingers along the hose a sufficient vacuum is produced to start theflow. This process is rather severe on the fingers, however, and toaccomplish the same end the device shown applied in the drawing is used,which device may be termed a starter.

1 represents the siphon tube and 2 a flexible frame made of a singlepiece of flat spring metal having a slot 3 at the center thereof throughwhich the siphon tube 2 passes, and rearwardly projecting substantiallyparallel arms 4 provided with rollers 5 at their extreme ends. Inoperation, the sides of the said frame are pressed inward toward thehose or tube, causing the rolls 5, to approach each other and bearfirmly on the hose which is between the said rolls, completelycollapsing the hose, and effectually closing it at this point. WVhilethe hose is thus closed, by moving the frame with its rolls downwardalong the hose, a partial vacuum will be formed in that part of the hosebetween the rolls and the liquid. The pressure of the atmosphere willforce the liquid into this exhausted part of the hose, and, uponreleasing the pressure on the hose, the stream will flow.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is A starterfor aIsiphon consisting of a flexible frame made of a single piece offiat spring metal, having a slot through the center thereof for thepassage of the siphon tube, and having rearwardly projectingsubstantially parallel arms provided with rollers at their extreme ends,substantially as and for the purpose described.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence oftwo subscribing witnesses.

ARTEMAS L. DAWSON.

Witnesses:

T. B. BLAIR, WILLIAM WILLIAMS.

